GIFEC Shares Lessons with the Gambian Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure
The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) had the pleasure of sharing lessons and experiences from the implementation of its Universal Access Fund with a Delegation from the Gambian Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure.
The team is on a 5-day ICT for Development Benchmark visit to the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation from Monday, 6th to Friday, 10th September, 2021 and, it was GIFEC’s turn to host the delegation on Wednesday, 8th September, 2021.
The purpose of the visit of the delegation with GIFEC, was to apprise themselves about policies, strategies, activities, programmes, application of resources, as well as challenges that confront GIFEC in the implementation of its mandate.
The visit, according to the Head of Delegation, Hon Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Information and Communication Infrastructure, will empower them to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Gambia, through the adoption and implementation of innovation-friendly policies and strategies; promote and foster digital entrepreneurship in Gambia through government-led innovation ventures; to enhance the ICT policy and regulatory environment and to ensure increased utilization of ICT infrastructure and improved access to ICT services.
In response and in his welcome address, Mr. Prince Ofosu Sefah, the Administrator (CEO) of GIFEC, highlighted key successes chalked by the Fund over the past 17 years, laying special emphasis on the significant role of strategic partnerships and innovation in the accomplishment of same.
He, however, underscored the need to engage more stakeholders as partners to augment the inadequate resources of the Fund, to expand ICT to the remotest part of the country. He noted with displeasure, the financial challenges facing most Mobile Network Operators as well as the fast-changing nature of the revenue streams in the telecommunications industry, without requisite regulatory realignment, which pose major risks to the health of the sector over the medium to long term.
The day’s visit featured a comprehensive presentation about the Fund’s Formation, Structures, Funding, Application of Resources, Projects, and Programmes undertaken. Other issues discussed included the Policy and Legislative framework for the establishment of GIFEC, challenges and the way forward.
Other members of the delegation were Mr. Yusupha Jobe, Director-General, Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; Mrs. Amie Njie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and ICT Infrastructure; Mr. Assan LS. Jammeh, Senior Planner, Ministry of Information and ICT Infrastructure.
The rest are Mr. Lamin Tunkara, Deputy Managing Director, the Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited; Mr Bakary Krubally, Director of Loans, Ministry of Finance; Mr. Malang A. Bass, DPS Technical, Ministry of Information and ICT Infrastructure; Mr. Amadou Nyang, Director of ICT, Ministry of Information and ICT Infrastructure.
The team was received by the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Directors and Heads of Units of GIFEC.
